Movie Review: Unabomber (2026)

Genre: Biographical Psychological Crime Thriller  

Director: Janus Metz Pederson  

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Russell Crowe, Jacob Tremblay, Annabelle Wallis  

Running Time: 100 minutes  

Synopsis: In the mid-1990s, a team of FBI Agents including linguistics expert Joanne Miller (Shailene Woodley) attempt to track down the elusive Unabomber, who has been sending parcel bombs to educational and industrial targets for 17 years. Joanne studies the Unabomber's recently published manifesto for clues. Flashbacks to 1958 reveal the college experiences of Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski (Jacob Tremblay), the son of Polish immigrants attending Harvard University. Intellectually brilliant, Ted joins a debating experiment run by psychology Professor Henry Murray (Russell Crowe), leading to social isolation and radicalization.

What Works Well: Based on actual events, this is a taut and brisk thriller with a focus on two aspects of the Unabomber case: the manifesto that led to family members identifying Ted to the FBI as a potential suspect, and the Harvard years when Ted participated in a CIA-funded experiment of psychological resilience. The flashback scenes are more impactful, Russell Crowe as a haughty professor overestimating his relevance and Jacob Tremblay as a highly strung and socially awkward young man both bringing studious intensity to the two key roles. 

What Does Not Work As Well: While Shailene Woodley is never less than competent, the fictionalization of the FBI investigation descends to television levels of immature personality clashes and agents going rogue, not helped by the sidelining of key real-life characters.

Key Quote:

Ted (in 1957): When I look around in our society, seems to me like it needs to change.

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Movie Review: The Life Of Chuck (2024)

Genre: Drama  

Director: Mike Flanagan  

Starring: Tim Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Mark Hamill, Jacob Tremblay  

Running Time: 111 minutes  

Synopsis: The plot unfolds in reverse chronological order, starting with Chapter Three. School teacher Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his ex-wife Felicia (Karen Gillan) experience the end of the world, but with weird billboards and posters proclaiming "Charles Krantz: 39 Great Years!". In Chapter Two, Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) is an accountant attending a conference. He encounters a drummer busker and dances up a storm, joined by the recently dumped Janice (Annalise Basso). In Chapter One, Chuck is an orphaned boy being raised by his grandparents Sarah and Albie (Mia Sara and Mark Hamill). Sarah teaches him to love dancing, while Albie encourages Chuck to pursue accounting as a career.

What Works Well: Adapting a Stephen King short story, writer and director Mike Flanagan unfurls a simple narrative with a deep commitment to the essence of being human. Chuck's whimsical journey sparkles with insights, sometimes subtle, at other times profound, linking one (and every) individual with the greater universe. Inspired by Carl Sagan's Cosmic Calendar and Walt Whitman's I contain multitudes, Chuck is nobody important and everybody who has ever lived, loved, lamented, and experienced unexpected moments of sublime perfection on the uncertain path to a singular certainty.

What Does Not Work As Well: The middle chapter could have been longer beyond the centrepiece dance sequence, and the childhood chapter may have benefitted from a proportionate trim.

Key Quote:

Chuck: I will live my life until my life runs out.

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Movie Review: Before I Wake (2016)

A suspense drama with some horror moments, Before I Wake explores deep-seated grief as a powerful force.

Eight year old orphan Cody Morgan (Jacob Tremblay) has had a troubled life, and social worker Natalie Friedman (Annabeth Gish) places him with newly approved foster parents Jessie and Mark Hobson (Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane). The Hobsons are still recovering from the accidental drowning death of their own young son Sean, and Jessie is attending a grief support group.

They soon discover that Cody loves butterflies, but is fearful of falling asleep and consumes stimulants to try and stay awake, believing the "Canker Man" is out to get him. When Cody does fall asleep, remarkable things happen in the Hobson household, with butterflies and other compelling visions appearing. But then really bad and evil events are also triggered by Cody's nightmares, and soon the lives of Jessie and Mark lives thrown into turmoil.

Directed and co-written by Mike Flanagan, Before I Wake is a fulfilling serving of horror as commentary on psychological scars. The film features a satisfactory number of bump-in-the-night moments, chills and scares, but is also unafraid to turn on the lights, bring in some moments of joy and delve into the human condition when drowning in emotional anguish.

Behind the creepy images of dead people coming to life, dreams and nightmares invading reality and butterflies either instilling beauty or shrouding menace, the film works as a metaphor for human duality, the capacity within each family member to add unbridled joy or devastating anguish. Fear of the unknown, letting go of the past and the insidious damage caused by harboring blame and resentment are other themes percolating within the narrative.

The cast features plenty of quality. Jacob Tremblay is immediately likable in one of his earliest screen roles (Before I Wake was filmed in 2013 and languished due to studio financial troubles). Tremblay conveys the innocence of a child still hopeful of finding happiness in life and effortlessly combines his character's extreme intellect with anxious fragility. Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane are sturdy as the parents struggling against the cracks appearing in their relationship due to their profound loss.

Before I Wake ends with a strong sense of purpose and courage, but also just errs on the side of over-tidiness in resolving all the emotional threads. Dreams are internal conversations worth having, but a flutter of mystery is always welcome.

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Movie Review: Wonder (2017)

A tender family drama about fitting in, Wonder is heartwarming and sweet, if at times too sugary.

August "Auggie" Pullman (Jacob Tremblay) was born with a genetic deformity resulting in hideously contorted facial features. A series of operations somewhat help, but Auggie is most comfortable wearing a toy space helmet in public. Now that Auggie is 10 years old, his mother Isabel (Julia Roberts) insists he needs to switch from homeschooling to join the public school system and adjust to being around other kids. His loving father Nate (Owen Wilson) and eternally patient sister Olivia "Via" (Izabela Vidovic) are tentatively supportive.

At school Auggie experiences the expected bullying, many stares, but also support and friendship, including from classmate Jack Will (Noah Jupe). The principal Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin) does his best to provide a normal environment. Meanwhile Via is experiencing troubles of her own, as her best friend Miranda (Danielle Rose Russell) is suddenly and inexplicably aloof and distant.

Directed by Stephen Chbosky and based on the book by R. J. Palacio, Wonder resonates as an eternal story of fitting in. Auggie's challenge is his facial disfigurement, but it may as well be skin colour, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Wonder excels thanks to a well-rounded perspective. The film is not just about Auggie, but also about the family supporting him and the classmates and school eco-system adjusting to his presence, in good and bad ways.

For the most part, Chbosky keeps the emotions real, featuring as many ups as downs. The students in Auggie's classroom are a mix of curious, standoffish, bullies and potential friends, and Auggie has good days and bad days. The adults are refreshingly adult, although the parents of a bully show up late in the film as a reminder of how close the apple falls relative to the tree.

The focus on family dynamics is refreshing. Isabel is the mother who sacrificed everything to support her son, putting her career aspirations on hold in the process. Via is the daughter who had to make space - lots of space - upon the arrival of a younger brother with special needs. Her quiet acceptance of her status and the friendship she continues to offer to Auggie are among the film's highlights. Izabela Vidovic's tender performance is second only to Jacob Tremblay's affecting turn beneath all the make-up.

The film has time for a couple of sub-stories as well, including Auggie's first friend Jack and Via's former friend Miranda, but these narrative threads are less developed.

Wonder does eventually push every button and pull every lever in search of emotional highpoints, and Chbosky opts for plenty of syrup through multiple climaxes featuring a school play, a science project, and school year-end ceremony. While the repetitive crescendos flirt with the tedious line, the film's greatest achievement is in quickly allowing Auggie to be just a kid. He looks different, and thankfully, so does everyone.

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